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(The hope is that while activists work on anti-software-patent campaigns, they will note things on {{SITENAME}}. By doing this, we consolidate our work while we do it, reducing the problem of informat)
(We gather facts and studies, and we also gather questions, rumours and theories - ''with the goal of opening these to examination so that, eventually, they can be proven or disproven''.)
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'''{{SITENAME}}''' is a publicly-editable information resource for campaigns against [[software patents]].
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Two key points to remember about {{SITENAME}}:
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# '''You''' can edit it.  Please do!  No account is necessary, and it uses the same wiki system as Wikipedia.
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# The pages are '''not statements''' from any person or organisation.  We gather facts and studies, and we also gather questions, rumours and theories - ''with the goal of opening these to examination so that, eventually, they can be proven or disproven''.  If you spot an error, please remember the point #1.
  
It uses the same wiki system as Wikipedia and everyone is welcome (including <u>you</u>) to help us by editing the pages.
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==Stay on topic==
  
==Wiki pages are ''not'' official ESP statements==
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===We don't evaluate corporate strategies===
  
This is a forum where community members collect information.  Anyone and everyone can edit these pages.
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When documenting litigation between companies, we should ignore the media's estimations of the profitability or emotions and focus on what problems this litigation highlights.
  
Members of the [[End Software Patents]] (ESP) campaign are the principal contributors, and often work seven days a week to monitor quality, but they are not the only contributors, and no permission is needed to edit the pages.
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For example, when Oracle sued Google over Java patents:
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* OFF TOPIC: Oracle wants to recuperate some of the costs of the purchase of Sun
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* OFF TOPIC: Oracle is sick of owning Java and being the only company that's not profiting from it
  
Silly or incorrect statements are sometimes let stay.  It's better to find ''proof'' that they're incorrect, and add that, than to immediately remove statements just because we ''think'' they're incorrect.
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Meanwhile:
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* ''ON'' TOPIC: Oracle is creating uncertaintly for individuals and companies with projects based on Java
  
==Stay on topic==
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===Hardware patents are not our problem===
  
Some pages document litigation between companiesIt is useful to document which patents are used, which companies use software patents aggressively, what problems this causes for technology, for business, etc.
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Hardware patents are not problems for software developersHardware patents are only restrictions on the manufacturing and distribution of hardware.
  
But, some aspects which draw a lot of media attention are off topic for {{SITENAME}}.  For example, the media often delves into ''why'' a company sued another company - Company X is afraid that Company Y is going to bring out a new product, or maybe Company Z wants to maintain control over a file format, etc, etc.  This can be useful as documentation of how software patents are used to
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Hardware patents might be bad economic policy.  Maybe they are, maybe they're not.  Same for patents on manufacturing pharmaceuticals or cars, but they're all off topic{{SITENAME}} is focussed on documenting the social and economic problems which patents cause to developers and distributors of software.
  
==Document things as you work==
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==How to be efficient: Document things as you work==
  
 
The hope is that while activists work on anti-software-patent campaigns, they will note things on {{SITENAME}}.  By doing this, we consolidate our work while we do it, reducing the problem of information loss when people leave campaigns.
 
The hope is that while activists work on anti-software-patent campaigns, they will note things on {{SITENAME}}.  By doing this, we consolidate our work while we do it, reducing the problem of information loss when people leave campaigns.
 +
 +
==Wiki pages are ''not'' official ESP statements==
 +
 +
This is a forum where community members collect information.  Anyone and everyone can edit these pages.
 +
 +
Members of the [[End Software Patents]] (ESP) campaign are the principal contributors, and often work seven days a week to monitor quality, but they are not the only contributors, and no permission is needed to edit the pages.
 +
 +
Silly or incorrect statements are sometimes let stay.  It's better to find ''proof'' that they're incorrect, and add that, than to immediately remove statements just because we ''think'' they're incorrect.
  
 
==Related pages on {{SITENAME}}==
 
==Related pages on {{SITENAME}}==

Revision as of 08:11, 12 October 2010

Two key points to remember about ESP Wiki:

  1. You can edit it. Please do! No account is necessary, and it uses the same wiki system as Wikipedia.
  2. The pages are not statements from any person or organisation. We gather facts and studies, and we also gather questions, rumours and theories - with the goal of opening these to examination so that, eventually, they can be proven or disproven. If you spot an error, please remember the point #1.

Stay on topic

We don't evaluate corporate strategies

When documenting litigation between companies, we should ignore the media's estimations of the profitability or emotions and focus on what problems this litigation highlights.

For example, when Oracle sued Google over Java patents:

  • OFF TOPIC: Oracle wants to recuperate some of the costs of the purchase of Sun
  • OFF TOPIC: Oracle is sick of owning Java and being the only company that's not profiting from it

Meanwhile:

  • ON TOPIC: Oracle is creating uncertaintly for individuals and companies with projects based on Java

Hardware patents are not our problem

Hardware patents are not problems for software developers. Hardware patents are only restrictions on the manufacturing and distribution of hardware.

Hardware patents might be bad economic policy. Maybe they are, maybe they're not. Same for patents on manufacturing pharmaceuticals or cars, but they're all off topic. ESP Wiki is focussed on documenting the social and economic problems which patents cause to developers and distributors of software.

How to be efficient: Document things as you work

The hope is that while activists work on anti-software-patent campaigns, they will note things on ESP Wiki. By doing this, we consolidate our work while we do it, reducing the problem of information loss when people leave campaigns.

Wiki pages are not official ESP statements

This is a forum where community members collect information. Anyone and everyone can edit these pages.

Members of the End Software Patents (ESP) campaign are the principal contributors, and often work seven days a week to monitor quality, but they are not the only contributors, and no permission is needed to edit the pages.

Silly or incorrect statements are sometimes let stay. It's better to find proof that they're incorrect, and add that, than to immediately remove statements just because we think they're incorrect.

Related pages on ESP Wiki